Electronic musical instrument



G. F. lLLSLEY ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Dec. 1;, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 28, 1948 1 w M W 5 MW :(M

Zhwentor Dec. 12, 1950 s. F. ILLSLEY 2,533,461

ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Aug. 28, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I'IIHI f l/d Zinnentor lttotneg Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Graydon F. Illsley, Omaha, Nebr.

Application August 28, 1948, Serial No. 46,627

6 Claims. (Cl. 84-128) This invention relates to musical instruments and more particularly it is an object of the invention to provide a musical instrument employing elements having notes recorded by magnetism thereon.

In the last few years and during the recent war, methods have been perfected whereby elongated wires and tapes can be treated in such a manner as to induce different magnetic characteristics in different portions thereof. Pick up means have also been devised for causing the different magnetic characteristics of different sections of such wires to induce electrical currents of proportional characteristics in said pick ups for amplification to audible sound.

Devices of this type are now on the market and they are popularly called wire recorders." It is also known that similarly magnetized tape will perform largely the same function as wire.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a musical instrument employing these newly discovered principles in a unique manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a musical instrument which may be provided with controls similar to the controls of a piano.

A further object of the invention is to provide a musical instrument as described, having a plurality of magnetized elements, each having a different note recorded by magnetism thereon, whereby the several elements may be placed in operation by convenient control and in a manner for playing music.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device as described which can function in much the same manner as an expensive piano but which will be less costly to manufacture, and in which the notes will not tend to gradually die or diminish in volume unless desired.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a musical instrument as described which can reproduce the sounds generated by other musical instruments.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose described which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eflicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble and utilize.

Other and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the musical instrument of the invention, a frame or casing not being shown, a portion of the tone ele- 2 ment supporting disc shaft together with certain of the supporting discs and their related electrical circuits not being shown; the tone elements themselves not being shown in this view because of its small scale;

Figure 2 is a detailed end elevation of one of the magnetized tone elements of the invention, its supporting disc, its driving shaft and a magnetic pickup head and head attaching bracket;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figure 2, parts of the bracket being broken away;

Figure 4 is an end elevation of a foot pedal and rheostat mechanism for controlling the volume of the instrument; and

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the mechanism of Figure 4.

The musical instrument of this invention includes a frame, not shown, on which following mechanism is mounted:

The mechanism includes a plurality of magnetized elements Ill. The elements I!) are elongated, circular and approximately continuous as is best shown in Figure 2. The elements 10 may each be an endless continuous circle, if desired. It is preferable, however, that the elements be approximately circular, but have ends as indicated in dotted lines at l2 in Figure 2 which are inturned toward the center of the circle formed by the elements.

The elements I0 may be either circular in cross-section, or rectangular in the form of a tape having a flat outer surface. Other crosssectional shapes may also be employed. In the following description, wires of circular cross-section will be employed for purposes of illustration.

The elements H! are each mounted on one of a plurality of discs M of electrically insulating non-magnetizable material which latter are disposed in' spaced apart parallelism along the shaft 16.

Adjacent the center of each disc i 4, the latter may be provided with a hub l8 having an opening therethrough for receiving the shaft [6, the shaft being rigidly secured to each disc I4.

The outer circumference of each disc 14 is preferably provided with an elongated, circular groove 29, best shown in Figure 3 for the purpose of receiving the wire H). A recess 2! is also pr vided, extending inwardly of the circumference of each disc i l for receiving the ends l2 of the element if).

The shaft I5 is preferably mounted in suitable bearings 24 and is rotated by means of two'or more gears 25; and a. driving motor 30.

It is desirable that in place of the shaft IS a plurality of separate shaft segments be employed, each segment being interconnected with the next segment by a flexible fitting to couple the shafts for simultaneous rotation.

As many discs [4 as desired may be placed on the same shaft 16 or upon the same section of the shaft. The total number of discs employed can be varied although a preferred number is 88, the total number ofkeys on a piano.

The elements H! are previously magnetized in a well-known manner, preferably so that each element contains a different note. The total length of each element Ill must be such as to accommodate the toneof its note.

For each element It! a magnetic pickup head, generally indicated at 32 is provided- Thepickup heads 32 are of any suitable type and have a coil in a casing 34 and two magnetic arms 36; Each head 32 is mounted sufiiciently close to its element has to have an electrical current induced there:- intoby'themagnetized portions of the element as the=latter rotatespast the head 32. If: desired, thearms 38 may touch the. element lll;

The heads 32 are each secured by means of a bar 40 and an adjusting thumb-screw 42 to a bracket 44. The bracket 44' may beof any suitable' shape and is rigidly secured to the frame of the'instrument. Each head 32. is provided'with two terminals 46 to:which' electrical. wires 50 are secured.

The wires 50 are two in number for each head 32 -and'each wire 50-.interconnects one terminal of the-resistance element of a rheostat 60 with one terminal of a head 32.

'Inthismanner a separate rheostat 60 is provided for each head 32. The resistance elements oftlie rheostats' 60 are each electrically connected bythe-wires 5|] between the terminals 46 of different ones of the heads 32.

The tape or sliding contact members of the rheostats 60 are diagrammatically shown at 10 'and'are electrically connected with an ingoingterminal 12 of" a pro-amplifier 14. The preamplifier 14" is itself in electrical communication with the final amplifier 16, which latter isconnected'to aloud speaker 18.

A singleamplifier of suitable type may be used iii-place of the'pre-amplifier 1d and final'amplifier 16, if desired.

- The pre amplifier 14 is provided with" a power plug 80 and two-power'intake wires 82in one of which latter a cut-off'switch 85 is provided.

A plurality of key switches 90" are employed each having" a terminal disposed in electrical communication with the resistance element of another rheostat 9'4 through a suitable wire 96. The said keyterminals are adapted to be placed 7 in'communication with other key terminals 98 tact withrtheterminals 98, except at timeswhen th'erkeys are depressed.

The total. numberof keys 9!] is thesame as the number of elements Ill employed, the total number'ofeimh being 88 as in a piano keyboard.

The device: further; includes a foot pedal. H

as shown in Figurese'4 and the-latter'beingpiyotally secured to a suitable mounting shaft H2 and is provided with a weight H4 disposed for counterbalancing the weight of the pedal H0 in order to cause the pedal 1 H] to revert to an up position at times when the pedal is not depressed by the foot of the operator.

A preferably arcuate member H6 is secured to the pedal H0 and projects upwardly therefrom. The member HE is provided with a plurality of teeth I IS on one side thereof for the purpose of engagingthe teeth of a gear I20. I

The gear i263 is rigidly secured to the rotatable shaft I22 which controls the movements of the sliding contact member or taps of the rheostat 94.

The sha'ft I6 is caused to rotate at a constant speed, suchspeed being sufficient for the largest cycle note element l0.

The operator, by pushing downwardly upon a desired one of the keys may cause the tones ofxth'e notes of the'corresponding elementsql 0 to be" soun dedthroughtlier-loud speaker 1 8.. In .this manner, vthe.instrument-may bezplayed much the same asthe: conventional piano;

When it is desired to change the-volumeior'the instrument this may be convenientlyaccomplished by pressing the foot pedal 1 i 8. It: willbe seen that when. the rheostats 60 are properly adjusted: that: verysatisfactory and superior musical tonesican be' played- The' tones of. any musical instrument may-be recorded upon: the elements l8 so that the varieties of types of music which :can' be played upon an instrument" of this: type are almost unlimited.

This invention: has provided. aneconomical, practical musical. instrument: employing: the newly discovered principles" of wire recorders and" which adaptedlto. reproduce sounds generated: by musical instrumentsof almost all types;

From the foregoingdescription, it=is thought to be obvious that an electronic musical instrument constructed: in accordance with my invention is particularly adapted for use by reason of the convenience 'and" facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it willalso' beobvious that" my invention is susceptible of some change andzmodification' including variations in the-shape.- and. size: of the parts'without depart ing: from the principles and spirit thereof, and forthis reason- I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formationof the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, except 'as claimed.

I claim:

1; A1 musical instrument comprising: a plurality of elongated circular approximately continuous magnetizable elements, said elements each having a difierentnote recorded by magnetismthereon, said elements each being long enough to accommodate the tone of one note; non magnetizable supports for said elements; means for rotating said supports and elements; magnetic pick-up heads for each element, said heads being held suificiently closepto' said elements to be energized thereby; a rheostat" for each of said heads; said'rheostats'each having its resistance element electrically connected be"- tweentheterminals of a different one" of said heads; .an amplifier, the sliding contact member of each rheostat being disposed in'electrical communication with an ingoingterminal of 1 said amplifierya'plurality of switch keys, each of said contact members also being connected with a terminal of a different one of said switch keys; another rheostat, the other terminal of each switch key being connected to a terminal of the resistance element of said other rheostat, the sliding contact member terminal of said other rheostat being connected to the other intake terminal of said amplifier; and a movable foot pedal operably secured to the sliding contact member of said other rheostat for simultaneous movements therewith.

2. A musical instrument comprising: a plurality of elongated circular approximately continuous magnetizable elements, said elements each having a difierent note recorded by magnetism thereon, said elements each being long enough to accommodate the tone of one note; non-magnetizable supports for said elements; means for rotating said supports and elements; magnetic pick-up heads for each element, said heads being held sumciently close to said elements to be energized thereby; a rheostat for each of said heads, said rheostats each having its resistance element electrically connected between the terminals of a different one of said heads; an amplifier, the sliding contact member of each rheostat being disposed in electrical communication with an ingoing terminal of said amplifier; and a plurality of switch keys, each of said contact members also being connected with a terminal of a different one of said switch keys, the other terminal of each of said switch keys being connected to the other intake terminal of said amplifier.

3. An instrument as described in claim 2 in which said rotating means rotates said supports and elements all at the same constant speed, said speed being sufiicient for the largest cycle note element.

4. A musical instrument comprising: a plurality of elongated circular approximately continuous magnetizable elements, said elements each having a different note recorded by magnetism thereon, said elements each being long enough to accommodate the tone of one note; non-magnetic supports for said elements; means for rotating said supports and elements; magnetic pick-up heads for each element, said heads being held sufficiently close to said elements to be energized thereby; an amplifier; a plurality of separate members electrically interconecting the terminals of each head together and independently of the other heads; means connecting the ingoing terminal of said amplifier with each of said terminal interconecting members; a plurality of switch keys, each of said interconnecting members also being connected to a terminal of a difierent one of said switch keys, the other terminals of said switch keys being each connected to the other terminal of said amplifier; another rheostat, the other terminal of each switch key being connected to a terminal of the resistance element of said other rheostat, the sliding :contact member terminal of said other rheostat being connected to the other intake terminal of said amplifier; and a movable foot pedal, said foot pedal being operably connected to the sliding contact member of said other rheostat for correlated movements therewith.

5. A musical instrument comprising: a plurality of elongated circular approximately continuous magnetizable elements, said elements each having a diiferent note recorded thereon, said elements each being long enough to accommodate the tone of one note; non-magnetic supports for said elements; means for rotating said supports and elements; magnetic pick-up heads for each element, said heads being held suificient- 1y close to said elements to be energized thereby; a plurality of separate members electrically interconnecting the terminals of each head together and independently of the other heads; an amplifier; means connecting the ingoing terminal of said amplifier with each of said terminal interconecting members; and a plurality of switch keys, each of said interconnecting members also being connected to a terminal of a dif ferent one of said switch keys, the other terminals of said switch keys being each connected to the other terminal of said amplifier.

6. An instrument as described in claim 5 in which said rotating means rotates said supports and elements all at the same constant speed, said speed being sufficient for the largest cycle note element.

GRAYDON F. HILSLEY.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,785,915 Robb Dec. 23, 1930 1,817,704 Osborne Aug. 4, 1931 

